Lack of Discipline — maybe, but learning discipline would take discipline; where do I start?

Perfectionism — I’m not a perfectionist, am I?

Bad Work Habits — yes, but sometimes I have good work habits, it depends on the situation or project; there must be more to it than that

It’s Natural — yes it’s natural to feel unmotivated about a task whose reward (or consequence for non-performance) seems small or remote in time; but why, when a terrifying deadline looms large, do I continue to procrastinate?